| Author |
Message |
    
shh
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 398
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 30, 2002 - 10:16 am: |     |
Just me again. Fresh out of ideas.
First of all, the mother-in-law: Shopaholic. Has way, way too much of everything. Sells jewelry and bags, so that's out. Doesn't cook. Doesn't clean. Doesn't write letters. Double whammy: her b-day is in December too.
Father-in-law: Doesn't buy much for himself. Pretty large, so buying clothes can be a challenge. Last year we did the whole pajama/robe thing. Likes to eat red meat, potatoes, etc.
They like going to the movies. Going out to eat. Trying to avoid the whole gift certificate thing.
Any suggestions? I was even thinking of sending them Omaha Steaks, but I don't know if my mother-in-law would cook them.
HELP... |
brusin
Citizen
Username: Brusin
Post Number: 35
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 30, 2002 - 10:22 am: | |
A friend of mine sends Omaha Steaks to her entire family and they hint around from year to year about whether they are getting them again this year. She says its been her most popular present and the easiest to send. |
mim
Citizen
Username: Mim
Post Number: 210
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 30, 2002 - 11:17 am: | |
We were recently given some Omaha Steaks, and they ARE a quality product.
However, if you're not sure anyone will cook them, you can choose something pre-cooked from the Omaha catalog. I didn't know they even did this until I read the literature that came in the box -- all kinds of prepared foods, mostly meats but also side dishes. Don't know if it's any better than Boston Market, but it's an idea... |
algebra2
Citizen
Username: Algebra2
Post Number: 610
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 30, 2002 - 12:42 pm: | |
potted plants |
bak
Citizen
Username: Bak
Post Number: 256
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 30, 2002 - 1:19 pm: | |
webTV |
kmk
Citizen
Username: Kmk
Post Number: 136
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 30, 2002 - 1:58 pm: | |
Tivo |
Joan
Citizen
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 1101
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 30, 2002 - 4:33 pm: | |
Why not arrange to have a personal chef come in one night and cook dinner for them? That way your father-in-law gets the meat and pototoes without your mother-in-law having to cook them. Avoids the whole "will they actually remember to use the gift certificate?" dilemma as well. |
shh
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 399
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 30, 2002 - 5:15 pm: | |
Good thought, but then they might have to clear all the mail and magazines off the table (because the chef would be using the counter to prepare). They REALLY do not eat at their kitchen table, and I think they threw their dining room table out. |
patty
Citizen
Username: Patty
Post Number: 238
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 30, 2002 - 5:34 pm: | |
This is actually sounding a bit bizarre.....
Good luck anyway, Shh. |
shh
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 400
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 30, 2002 - 6:07 pm: | |
Welcome to my world Patty!
(I'm trying to be nice this year too!) |
deborahg
Citizen
Username: Deborahg
Post Number: 382
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 30, 2002 - 6:13 pm: | |
Hahaha! How about a gift basket of precooked stuff from zabars? Good selection at zabars.com. |
ffof
Citizen
Username: Ffof
Post Number: 830
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 30, 2002 - 7:42 pm: | |
Make a calendar out of family snapshots taken over the past year. Each month has it's own picture. Mailboxes Etc can do these. In-laws and parents love 'em. (Mine do!) |
Barbara
Citizen
Username: Blh
Post Number: 112
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 30, 2002 - 8:49 pm: | |
Make a donation in their name to an organization/charity that is meaningful to them. |
shh
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 401
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, October 30, 2002 - 9:51 pm: | |
ffof...she took a picture from me and made it up herself (at Staples). She already did the 2003...so I can't do that.
Barbara...what the Nordstrom's fund? ; )
I might just buy a large frame and put a collection of nice photos in it, take them out for a family dinner or brunch w/ the kids so we spend some "family time" together, and have the older kids make a project or some artwork just for them. How does that sound? Any mid-late 50 year old grandparents out there care to comment?
|
Joan
Citizen
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 1104
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, October 31, 2002 - 5:54 pm: | |
Sounds very thoughtful. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 1346
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, October 31, 2002 - 9:11 pm: | |
His & Hers magazine subscriptions? Fashion for her, Sports Illustrated, or some manly mag for him? You can wrap the December issue with a card telling them about the sub.
There are also 'of the month' clubs. My brother & his wife do monthly flower arrangements for 1 year for her parents. I've also done micro-beer of the month (for as few as 3 months), coffee of the month, chocolate of the month, wine club, etc. The Clubs are always well-received when the recipient likes the object. |
naborly
Citizen
Username: Naborly
Post Number: 166
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 5, 2002 - 9:25 pm: | |
My in-laws are far away in Fla. They say we should not buy them anything at all. So I send 3 amaryllis in a fancy pot from Jackson and Perkins. The flowers are great, it's easy and it's fun. Tried the muffins from Wolferman's catalogue one year. |
kathy
Citizen
Username: Kathy
Post Number: 455
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, November 5, 2002 - 11:06 pm: | |
Mmm, Wolferman's muffins.....I'm partial to the cheddar cheese ones. |
r2boy
Citizen
Username: R2boy
Post Number: 69
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, November 7, 2002 - 7:05 am: | |
How about a watercolor or black ink sketch of their home? I have given this as a gift several times and it lasts forever..I have them framed too. I use La Petite Maison (Terry) at (973)762-9230.She works from a picture or if it is a nearby location she will take the picture herself...something different ... |
shh
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 408
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, November 7, 2002 - 9:15 am: | |
All great ideas for most in-laws, but not mine.
R2boy, love that idea, but they live in a pretty ugly semi-attached home on Staten Island (Hank & Jerry will know what I mean). Besides, they'd be more interested in a watercolor of my mother-in-law or their daughter than their house. |
amandacat
Citizen
Username: Amandacat
Post Number: 44
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, November 7, 2002 - 4:35 pm: | |
r2boy,
sounds promising -- any idea what a sketch or painting would cost? even a ballpark figure would do.
-amandacat |
botulismo
Citizen
Username: Botulismo
Post Number: 47
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Friday, November 8, 2002 - 2:54 am: | |
We bought my mom three months of flowers. Once a month, she received a different. Talk about parental brownie points. We're back in the will and the pictures came out of storage...
p.s. We are thinking about TP of the month for pops.  |
shh
Citizen
Username: Shh
Post Number: 409
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, November 8, 2002 - 8:52 am: | |
toilet paper??? |
jeanneh
Citizen
Username: Jeanneh
Post Number: 14
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Friday, November 8, 2002 - 10:16 am: | |
Why not tickets to a Broadway show?
It could be a family thing if you can afford it. |
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 4
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Friday, November 8, 2002 - 2:18 pm: | |
Gift certificate for a local spa for a massage or similar. Not sure if the father-in-law would like that, but maybe fore your mom-in-law? |
r2boy
Citizen
Username: R2boy
Post Number: 70
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, November 8, 2002 - 2:36 pm: | |
amandacat: The last sketch I had done was an 8x10 pen/ink that came matted but I paid extra for the frame. I believe the total was around $100...It is an original gift that will last a lifetime. Call Terry for more info..(973)762-9230.. |
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